Disposable electronic cigarette

ABSTRACT

This invention discloses a disposable electronic cigarette, comprising a cigarette holder and a cigarette rod, the cigarette holder defining an air outlet hole, wherein, at least three air inlet holes are defined in a cigarette rod wall of the cigarette rod, the air inlet holes and the air outlet hole cooperatively form an airflow loop, and at least one indicator light corresponding to the air inlet holes is mounted on the cigarette pipe to indicate positions of the air inlet holes and/or operation states of the electronic cigarette. When users holds the electronic cigarette, the indicator light will indicate the positions of the air inlet holes, and users can adjust the air inflow amount to keep a smooth airflow.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation of International Patent ApplicationNo. PCT/CN2013/074375, with an international filing date of Apr. 18,2013, designating the United States, now pending. The contents of thesespecifications are incorporated herein by reference.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to the field of electrical heating products, andmore particularly to a disposable electronic cigarette.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

With the enhancement of national smoking banning propaganda and thepromotion of the people's health consciousness, electronic cigarettesare more and more widely used as substitutes of typical tobacco. Atypical electronic cigarette comprises a cigarette rod and a cigaretteholder fixed together. A battery is mounted in the cigarette rod, anatomizer is received inside the cigarette holder, and the cigarette rodis connected with the cigarette rod by a connector. Electroniccigarettes are configured for simulating smoking feel on the premise ofno influence on health, so as to be used for quitting smoking orreplacing cigarette. Electronic cigarettes include rechargeableelectronic cigarettes and disposable electronic cigarettes. A disposableelectronic cigarette refers to an electronic cigarette which needsneither to be charged nor to change an electronic cigarette cartridge,and can be discarded after being used once. Compared with therechargeable electronic cigarettes, the disposable electronic cigaretteshave simpler structures and lower cost. However, in a typical disposableelectronic cigarette, only one or two air inlet hole(s) are defined in aconnector close to a cigarette holder. Because the air inlet holes aregenerally very small, the positions of the air inlet holes may bedifficult to be noticed by users. In use, if the air inlet holes areincorrectly blocked by users' fingers, air may be unable to enter theelectronic cigarette smoothly, which may adversely affect smokegeneration.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The technical problem to solve in the invention is that, aiming at thedefects in the prior art that air inlet hole is defined in the connectorclose to the cigarette holder, and is easy to get blocked by users'finger, this invention provides an electronic cigarette, which comprisesat least three air inlet holes defined in the cigarette rod wall, andalso comprises indicator lights configured for indicating the positionof the air inlet holes. In use, even if one of the air inlet holes getblocked, the air flow can still stay smooth, and it can be moreconvenient for adjusting the air inlet amount, so as to keep a nice airinflow, and a swift smoke generating, and thus the users' individuatingdemands can be met.

The technical solution of the invention is as follows: a disposableelectronic cigarette comprising a cigarette holder and a cigarette rod,the cigarette holder defining an air outlet hole, wherein, at leastthree air inlet holes are defined in a cigarette rod wall of thecigarette rod, the air inlet holes and the air outlet hole cooperativelyform an airflow loop, and at least one indicator light corresponding tothe air inlet holes is mounted on the cigarette pipe to indicatepositions of the air inlet holes and/or operation states of theelectronic cigarette.

In the disposable electronic cigarette of the invention, the indicatorlight is embedded in at least one of the air inlet holes, with a gapformed therebetween, and partially contacts an inner surface of the airinlet hole; or the indicator light is mounted at a position of thecigarette rod wall that is adjacent to the air inlet holes; or theindicator light is embedded in a position of the cigarette rod wallcorresponding to positions of the air inlet holes.

In the disposable electronic cigarette of the invention, the air inletholes are arranged to form a warning pattern.

In the disposable electronic cigarette of the invention, the warningpattern is snakelike or spiral.

In the disposable electronic cigarette of the invention, the air inletholes shaped as any one of circle, polygon, kidney, and ellipse.

In the disposable electronic cigarette of the invention, the disposableelectronic cigarette further comprises a battery and an atomizerincluding heating wires, which are both mounted in the cigarette rod;and the cigarette rod wall sleeves the atomizer and the battery, with afirst gap formed between the atomizer and the battery along an axialdirection.

In the disposable electronic cigarette of the invention, the at leastthree air inlet holes communicate with the first gap.

In the disposable electronic cigarette of the invention, the atomizercomprises an atomizing passage formed along an axial direction of thecigarette rod wall and communicating with the first gap, and an end ofthe atomizer that is away from the battery communicates with thecigarette holder.

In the disposable electronic cigarette of the invention, the indicatorlight is electrically connected with the battery, and is supplied withpower by the battery (4).

In the disposable electronic cigarette of the invention, the at leastthree air inlet holes are defined in a circumference of the cigaretterod wall, corresponding to the first gap.

In the disposable electronic cigarette of the invention, the indicatorlight is mounted in the first gap.

In the disposable electronic cigarette of the invention, a second gap isformed between the cigarette rod wall and the battery.

In the disposable electronic cigarette of the invention, the at leastthree air inlet holes are defined on the cigarette rod wall,corresponding to the second gap.

In the disposable electronic cigarette of the invention, a breather pipethat is coaxial with the atomizing passage is mounted between thecigarette holder and the atomizer, and the breather pipe communicateswith the air inlet holes and the atomizing passage respectively. In thedisposable electronic cigarette of the invention, the at least three airinlet holes are equidistantly defined in positions of the cigarette rodwall arranged in a same radial direction. In the disposable electroniccigarette of the invention, the at least three air inlet holes areequidistantly defined in positions of the cigarette rod wall arranged ina same axial direction.

In the disposable electronic cigarette of the invention, the first gapis configured with a width of 0.3-8 mm.

In the disposable electronic cigarette of the invention, the second gapis configured with a width of 0.08-5 mm.

The disposable electronic cigarette of the invention, at least one layerof sticker is attached on an outer surface of the cigarette rod wall,and a second through hole corresponding to the air inlet holes and thirdthrough hole corresponding to the indicator light are defined in thesticker.

By implementing the electronic cigarette of the present invention, thefollowing advantages can be achieved: in the invention, at least threeair inlet holes are defined in the cigarette rod wall. During smoking,under the indication of the indicator light, users can find positions ofthe air inlet holes quickly and exactly. The air inlet amount can beadjusted more conveniently, and the smoking taste can be improved. Agood ventilation effect is ensured, and meanwhile the users'individuating demands can be met.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The present invention will be further described with reference to theaccompanying drawings and embodiments in the following, in theaccompanying drawings:

FIG. 1 illustrates a whole structure of a disposable electroniccigarette in accordance with a first preferable embodiment of thepresent invention;

FIG. 2 illustrates a partially cutaway structure of the disposableelectronic cigarette shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 illustrates an exploded view of the disposable electroniccigarette in FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 illustrates a partial structure of a disposable electroniccigarette in accordance with a second preferable embodiment of thepresent invention;

FIG. 5 illustrates a position relationship between the indicator lightand the air inlet hole of the disposable electronic cigarette shown inFIG. 4;

FIG. 6 illustrates a partial structure of a disposable electroniccigarette in accordance with a third preferable embodiment of thepresent invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

To make the objective, technical solution and advantages of theinvention be more clearly understood, the invention is to be furtherdescribed with reference to the accompanying drawings and embodiments.

Referring to FIGS. 1-3, a preferable embodiment of the present inventionprovides a disposable electronic cigarette with an integrated structure,which comprises a cigarette holder 1 defining an air outlet hole, and acigarette rod engaged with the cigarette holder. At least three airinlet holes 21 are defined in a cigarette rod wall 2 of the cigaretterod, and at least one indicator light (not shown) corresponding to theat least three air inlet holes is mounted on the cigarette rod wall 2.The at least three air inlet holes 21 communicate with the air outlethole of the cigarette holder 1, so that air enters the air flows intothe cigarette rod from the air inlet holes 21, forms smoke, and flowsout via the air outlet hole. The at least one indicator light emitslight when the electronic cigarette is in operation to indicate theposition of the air inlet holes, thus makes users locate the air inletholes more conveniently, and further adjust air inlet amount of the atleast three air inlet holes.

Furthermore, the cigarette rod receives an atomizer 3 including heatingwires 31, a battery 4, and a light cap 5; wherein the cigarette wall 2sleeves the atomizer and the battery, the cigarette holder 1 is mountedat one end of the cigarette rod wall 2 that is adjacent to the atomizer3, and the light cap 5 is mounted at the other end of the cigarette rodwall 2 that is adjacent to the battery 4. A breather pipe 10 is mountedbetween the cigarette 1 and the atomizer 3 along an axial direction, andthe cigarette holder 1 communicates with the atomizer 3 via the breatherpipe 10. The atomizer 3 includes an atomizing passage 30 formed along anaxial direction of the cigarette rod wall 2, a first gap 20 is formedbetween the atomizer 3 and the battery 4 along an axial direction, andthe at least three air inlet holes communicate with the first gap 20 andcooperate with the atomizing passage 30, the breather pipe 10 and thecigarette holder 1 to form an airflow loop,. At least one indicatorlight corresponding to the air inlet holes 21 is mounted on thecigarette rod. In this embodiment, the disposable electronic cigaretteinvolves an integrated structure, which benefits manufacture processing,and achieves a good wholeness.

Furthermore, the atomizer 3 comprises an atomizing base 301 and anatomizing frame 302, wherein the atomizing base 301 includes a substrate(not shown) and a main body (not shown) that is perpendicular to thesubstrate. The main body is hollow and cylinder-like, the atomizingpassage 30 is formed therein, and heating wires 31 are mounted at an endof the atomizer 3 that is away from the atomizing frame 302. The heatingwires 31 are connected to the battery 4 via a cable (not shown) to besupplied with power by the battery 4. Additionally, the at least oneindicator light of the present invention is electrically connected tothe battery 4 to be supplied with power by the battery 4.

The breather pipe 10 is cylinder-shaped. The heating wires 31 aremounted between the breather pipe 10 and the atomizing passage 30, andthe heating wires 31 comprises interspaces or gaps, so that the breatherpipe 10 communicates with the atomizing passage 30.

The substrate of the atomizing base 301 is engaged with the atomizingframe 302, and a first through hole 303 is defined in the atomizingframe 302. The first through hole 303 communicates with and is coaxialwith the atomizing passage 30 and the first gap 20.

At least three air inlet holes 21 are defined in the cigarette rod wall2, the first gap 20 is formed between the atomizer 3 and the battery 4along an axial direction, and the first gap 20 cooperate with the atleast three air inlet holes, the first through hole 303, the atomizingpassage 30, and the breather pipe 10 to form the airflow loop.Particularly, in this embodiment, the first gap 20 is formed between theatomizing frame 302 and the battery 4 along an axial direction, and awidth of first gap 20 is 0.3-10 mm, which facilitates air entering fromthe air inlet holes 21 and flowing upward.

The air inlet holes can be defined in any position of the cigarette rodwall 2. Specifically, the air inlet holes 21 can be defined in a portionof the cigarette rod wall 2 corresponding to the first gap 20, so thatair can enter from the air inlet hole 21, pass through the airflow loopformed by the first gap 20, the first through hole 303, the atomizingpassage 30, the interspaces of the heating wires, and the breather pipe10 in order, and then flow upward to reach the cigarette holder 1.Correspondingly, the at least one indicator light can be fixedly mountedat a position of the cigarette rod wall 2 that is close to the air inlethole 21, or embedded in the air inlet hole 21 with a gap formedtherebetween. On these conditions, the air enters into the cigarette rodthrough the gap between the indicator light and the air inlet hole 21.The at least one indicator light can also be mounted in the first gap20, for example, by mounting a light base in the first gap 20 for fixingthe indicator light. When the indicator light is lighted on, the emittedlight will pass through the air inlet hole 21 defined in the portion ofthe cigarette rod wall 2 corresponding to the first gap 20, and a usercan determine the position of the air inlet hole 21 according to thelight emitted by the indicator light.

In the disposable electronic cigarette shown in the figures, the battery4 and the atomizer 3 are sleeved by the cigarette rod wall 2, and asmall gap is formed between the battery 4 and the cigarette rod wall 2.Because air may flow in the small gap, the air inlet holes 21 can alsobe defined in a portion of the cigarette rod wall 2 corresponding to thesmall gap between the battery 4 and the cigarette rod wall 2. On thiscondition, preferably, the at least one indicator light is embedded intothe cigarette rod wall 2, that is, the at least one indicator light maybe embedded in a position of the cigarette rod 2 that is adjacent to theair inlet holes 21, or be embedded into one of the air inlet holes 21spacedly and partially contact an inner surface of the air inlet hole21. After the air enters the air inlet hole 21, it will pass through thegap between the battery 4 and the cigarette rod wall, and thensuccessively flow through the first gap 20, the first through hole 303,the atomizing passage 30, the interspaces or gaps of the heating wires31, and the breather pipe 10, and finally reach the cigarette holder 1,thereby forming the airflow loop. In use, the indicator light embeddedin the cigarette rod wall 2 or spacedly embedded into one of the airinlet holes 21 is supplied with power by the battery 4 and lights, sothat users can exactly locate the position of the air inlet hole 21according to the light emitted by the indicator light, and adjust theamount of airflow. To keep a smooth airflow, in this embodiment, the gapbetween the battery 4 and the cigarette rod wall 2 is configured to be asecond gap (not shown) that is wider than a gap formed between a batteryand a cigarette rod wall in the prior art, and specifically, a width ofthe second gap is 0.08-9 mm.

The air inlet holes 21 can be defined wherever in the cigarette rod wall2. In this embodiment, three air inlet holes 21 are defined in a portionof the cigarette rod wall 2 corresponding to the middle of the first gap20. As shown in FIGS. 1-3, in this embodiment, the three air inlet holes21 are equidistantly defined in positions of the cigarette rod wall 2arranged in a same radial direction. Thus, air can enter from the airinlet holes 21, successively flow through the first gap 20, the firstthrough hole 303, the atomizing passage 30, the interspaces or gapsamong the heating wires 31, and the breather pipe 10, and finally reachthe cigarette holder 1, thereby forming the airflow loop.Understandably, the air inlet holes 21 can also be defined in a portionof the cigarette rod wall 2 corresponding to the second gap 120, or anyother position, as long as the air inlet holes 21 are defined in thecigarette rod wall 2 and communicate with the first gap 20.

To indicate the position of the air inlet holes 21 more conveniently,the air inlet holes 21 in the invention can be arranged to form awarning pattern with a predetermined shape on the cigarette rod wall 2.For example, several (such as five or more) air inlet holes 21 can forma snakelike or spiral-like warning pattern,

It should be understood that, the at least three air inlet holes can beequidistantly defined or not. The air inlet holes 21 can be defined inpositions of the cigarette rod wall 2 that are equidistant and in a sameradial direction, so that the several air inlet holes 21 can beannularly defined in a circumference of the cigarette rod wall 2,thereby making the appearance of the disposable electronic cigarette bebeautiful. The air inlet holes 21 can also be defined in positions ofthe cigarette rod wall 2 that are equidistant and in a same axialdirection, that is, the air inlet holes 21 are collinear. Furthermore,some of the air inlet holes 21 can be defined in the portion of thecigarette rod wall 2 corresponding to the first gap 20, and the othersof the air inlet holes 21 can be defined in the portion of the cigaretterod wall 2 corresponding to the second gap.

The air inlet holes 21 can be shaped as any one of circle, polygon,kidney and ellipse, or any other irregular shapes.

In the invention, the total area of openings of all the air inlet holes21 formed on a lateral side of the cigarette rod wall 2 is 0.2-8 mm². Ifthe total area is less than 0.2 mm², the airflow may be too weak, andthe smoke flow may be too small, which may adversely affect the smokingtaste; while if the total area is larger than 8 mm², the airflow may betoo large, the smoke flow may be too large, and smoke may straightly runinto the user's mouth and make the user feel uncomfortable.

Additionally, in the disposable electronic cigarette of the invention,at least one layer of sticker can be attached on an outer surface of thecigarette rod wall 2 to insulate heat, so as to protect the user fromgetting burned by heat generated by the heating wires 31 and passingthrough the cigarette rod wall 2 during use, as well as to protect thecigarette rod wall 2. Second through holes (not shown) corresponding tothe air inlet holes 21 and at least one third through hole correspondingto the indicator light are defined in the sticker. The second throughholes are configured to keep outside air entering the air inlet holes 21smoothly, and the third through hole are configured to keep theindicator light emitting normally. Specifically, the shape and size ofthe second through hole can be similar to the air inlet holes 21. Whenthe indicator light is mounted in the first gap 20 and/or embedded inthe air inlet hole 21, the second through hole and the third throughhole are integrated (i.e., defined in a same position of the sticker22). When the indicator light is embedded in the portion the cigaretterod wall 2 adjacent to the air inlet holes 21, the second and thirdthrough holes are defined in portions of the sticker 22 corresponding tothe indicator light and the air inlet holes 21, respectively.

Referring to FIG. 1, in a first embodiment of the invention, the airinlet holes 21 areshaped as circle, the number of which is three, andthe air inlet holes 21 are defined in positions of the cigarette rodwall 2 that are equidistant and in a same axial direction, correspondingto the first gap 20. In this embodiment, the indicator light (not shown)is mounted in the first gap 20, and the number of the indicator light isone. When using the disposable electronic cigarette, the indicator lightis lighted on and emits light out via the air inlet holes 21 to indicatethe positions of the air inlet holes 21 and the state of the electroniccigarette.

Referring to FIG. 4, in a second embodiment of the invention, the airinlet holes are shaped as circle, and the number of which is seven. Theair inlet holes 21 are defined equidistantly in the cigarette rod wall2, and are arranged in a row of snake to form a snakelike pattern. Inthis embodiment, the indicator light is embedded into the air inlet hole21, with gaps for air entering. As shown in FIG. 5, a method forconnecting the at least one indicator light with the air inlet hole 21of the electronic cigarette in FIG. 4 is illustrated. In thisembodiment, the indicator light is shaped as ellipse, with the longeraxis thereof being equal to the diameter of the air inlet hole 21. Thus,the indicator light is ensured to be relatively fixed in the air inlethole 21, and at the same time, the gap between the indicator light 210and the air inlet hole 21 can facilitate the air inflow. In thisembodiment, the number of the indicator light 210 can be equal to orless than the air inlet hole 21.

Referring to FIG. 6, in a third embodiment, the air inlet hole 21 isshaped as circle, and the number of which is four. Three of the airinlet holes 21 are equidistantly defined in a same radial direction ofthe cigarette rod wall 2, and the rest one air inlet hole 21 is definedcoaxially with one of the above-mentioned three air inlet holes 21. Atleast one indicator light 210 is embedded in the cigarette rod wall 2and is adjacent to the air inlet holes 21. In this embodiment, thenumber of the indicator light 210 is one, and a shape of which ascircle; and understandably, the number and shape of the indicator lightshall not be limited to the embodiment.

The above-mentioned three embodiments are just for description, and thespecific numbers, shapes, and location relations of the air inlet holes21 and the indicator light will not be limited to what is mentioned.

In the invention, at least three air inlet holes 21 are defined in thecigarette rod wall 2, and at least one indicator light is mounted toindicate the positions of the air inlet holes 21. During smoking, userscan adjust the air inlet amount to keep the airflow being smooth,thereby improving the smoking taste, and meanwhile the users'individuating demands can be met.

While the present invention has been described with reference topreferred embodiments, it will be understood by those skilled in the artthat various changes and equivalents may be substituted withoutdeparting from the scope of the present invention, and those variouschanges and equivalents shall fall into the protection of the invention.

What is claimed is:
 1. A disposable electronic cigarette comprising acigarette holder (1) and a cigarette rod, the cigarette holder (1)defining an air outlet hole, wherein, at least three air inlet holes(21) are defined in a cigarette rod wall (2) of the cigarette rod, theair inlet holes (21) and the air outlet hole cooperatively form anairflow loop, and at least one indicator light corresponding to the airinlet holes is mounted on the cigarette rod to indicate positions of theair inlet holes and/or operation states of the electronic cigarette. 2.The disposable electronic cigarette of claim 1, wherein, the indicatorlight is embedded in at least one of the air inlet holes (21), with agap formed therebetween, and partially contacts an inner surface of theair inlet hole; or the indicator light is mounted at a position of thecigarette rod wall (2) that is adjacent to the air inlet holes (21); orthe indicator light is embedded in a position of the cigarette rod wall(2) corresponding to positions of the air inlet holes(21).
 3. Thedisposable electronic cigarette of claim 1, wherein the air inlet holes(21) are arranged to form a warning pattern.
 4. The disposableelectronic cigarette of claim 3, wherein the warning pattern issnakelike or spiral.
 5. The disposable electronic cigarette of claim 1,wherein the air inlet holes (21) are shaped as any one of circle,polygon, kidney, and ellipse.
 6. The disposable electronic cigarette ofclaim 2, wherein the disposable electronic cigarette further comprises abattery (4) and an atomizer (3) including heating wires (31), which areboth mounted in the cigarette rod; and the cigarette rod wall of thecigarette rod (2) sleeves the atomizer (3) and the battery (4), with afirst gap (20) formed between the atomizer (3) and the battery (4) alongan axial direction.
 7. The disposable electronic cigarette of claim 6,wherein the at least three air inlet holes (21) communicate with thefirst gap (20).
 8. The disposable electronic cigarette of claim 7,wherein the atomizer (3) comprises an atomizing passage (30) formedalong an axial direction of the cigarette rod wall (2) and communicatingwith the first gap (20), and an end of the atomizer (3) that is awayfrom the battery (4) communicates with the cigarette holder (1).
 9. Thedisposable electronic cigarette of claim 8, wherein a breather pipe (10)that is coaxial with the atomizing passage (30) is mounted between thecigarette holder and the atomizer (3), and the breather pipe (10)communicates with the air inlet holes (21) and the atomizing passage(30) respectively.
 10. The disposable electronic cigarette of claim 3,wherein the indicator light is electrically connected with the battery(2), and is supplied with power by the battery (2).
 11. The disposableelectronic cigarette of claim 10, wherein the at least three air inletholes (21) are defined in a circumference of the cigarette rod wall (2)corresponding to the first gap (20).
 12. The disposable electroniccigarette of claim 11, wherein the indicator light is mounted in thefirst gap (20).
 13. The disposable electronic cigarette of claim 12,wherein a second gap (120) is formed between the rod wall (2) and thebattery (4).
 14. The disposable electronic cigarette of claim 13,wherein the at least three air inlet holes (21) are defined in positionsof the cigarette rod wall (2) corresponding to the second gap (120). 15.The disposable electronic cigarette of claim 1, wherein the at leastthree air inlet holes (21) are equidistantly defined in positions of thecigarette rod wall (2) arranged in a same radial direction.
 16. Thedisposable electronic cigarette of claim 1, wherein the at least threeair inlet holes (21) are equidistantly defined in positions of thecigarette rod wall (2) arranged in a same axial direction.
 17. Thedisposable electronic cigarette of claim 1, wherein at least one layerof sticker (22) is attached on an outer surface of the cigarette rodwall (2), and a second through hole corresponding to the air inlet holes(21) and third through hole corresponding to the indicator light aredefined in the sticker (22).